Indian Navy's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed while taking off from a naval base at Kochi on Tuesday. As per the defence spokesperson, the crash took place near the Southern Naval Command (SNC).

Indian Navy's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed while taking off from a naval base at Kochi on Tuesday. As per the defence spokesperson, the crash took place near the Southern Naval Command (SNC).

The accident took place ahead of Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu's visit at the Naval base in Kochi. The UAV was on a routine training sortie. The reason behind the crash was not immediately. More details are awaited on the matter.

PMO has sanctioned Ministry Of Defense to provide Air Force helicopter to carry mortal remains of former I&B minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi from Delhi to Raiganj in West Bengal.

"A remotely piloted aircraft 'Searcher' on a routinesurveillance mission crashed north of the naval airfield INSGaruda after take off at 10:25 am," a Defence release said."However, there has been no casualty or damage toproperty. A Board of Inquiry as been constituted toinvestigate the cause of the accident," it said.

Senior superintendent of police Suleman Choudhary said the incident occurred at Ladoli village in Kathua district. “We were informed about this at 3.30 am. A police team has been sent to the spot, and further information is awaited,” he added.

No loss to life or property was reported. Kathua district has witnessed sporadic terrorist activities owing to its proximity to the India-Pakistan border. The district is the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab and the strategic Jammu-Pathankot highway which passes through the district has been subject to terrorist attacks in recent times.